Euro-islam.info - News and Analysis on Islam in Europe and North America

Télé Matin. (2026, 24 mars). Bally Bagayoko en 2026 [Photographie]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bally_Bagayoko_en_2026.png

Municipal Elections 2026: A rise of elected officials from immigrant backgrounds, between local anchoring and national tensions

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 euro islam

The 2026 French municipal elections revealed the emergence of a new cohort of elected officials, many of whom come from immigrant backgrounds, particularly in suburban territories shaped by sustained demographic change . These electoral gains, largely concentrated in the Paris region and often associated with left-wing political forces, illustrate the growing influence of immigration on local political representation while reflecting deeply rooted patterns of territorial inequality . At the same time, the limited geographic scope of these successes, along with the controversies and hostile reactions they have provoked, underscore both the partial nature of this transformation and the persistence of social and political tensions surrounding diversity in contemporary France

Europe at the Heart of a War of Influence between State and non State Islamic actors

February 26, 2026February 26, 2026 euro islam

Western Europe has increasingly become a space where Middle Eastern geopolitical rivalries intersect with domestic debates on political Islam. Investigations in France, Austria and the United Kingdom have pointed to Emirati efforts to encourage stricter measures against the Muslim Brotherhood through diplomatic channels, lobbying networks and the funding of research initiatives. Saudi Arabia has similarly framed the Brotherhood as a deviant and terrorist movement, embedding this position within a broader soft power strategy combining religious diplomacy, institutional funding and international image-building. At the same time, European reports have described the Muslim Brotherhood as pursuing its own influence strategies through civil society networks and representative institutions. Europe thus appears as a field of competition between state-driven counter-Islamist agendas and non-state Islamist actors, reflecting broader regional rivalries projected onto European political arenas.

Antisemitism within the German Muslim population since October 7

January 31, 2026January 31, 2026 euro islam

Since October 7, 2023, antisemitism in Germany has shown a troubling shift rather than a sharp quantitative increase. While overall levels of traditional and Israel-related antisemitic attitudes among Muslims remain relatively stable, recent research highlights a significant intensification in their association with radical and violent orientations. Antisemitic views, particularly those linked to Israel, are increasingly correlated with support for extremist actors, acceptance of political violence, and self-sacrificial attitudes. This qualitative radicalization contributes to a growing sense of insecurity among Jewish communities, especially in academic settings, and reflects a broader European trend in which antisemitism is becoming more normalized and more violent.

Dutch Elections 2025: PVV Decline Sparks Relief in Muslim Communities

December 29, 2025December 29, 2025 euro islam

The decline of Geert Wilders’ PVV in the 2025 Dutch elections has been widely perceived as a relief within Muslim communities. Yet beyond this symbolic setback for the far right, the election reveals a deeper paradox: while anti-Islam rhetoric may be losing electoral ground, political participation and substantive representation of Muslims in the Netherlands remain structurally fragile. The Dutch case thus highlights a persistent gap between formal democratic inclusion and lived political belonging.

The creation of a Muslim movement for the municipal elections in Rome is generating strong criticism.

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 euro islam

MuRo27, a newly established collective, launched in November 2025 with a statement announcing its goal to encourage political participation among Muslims ahead of the 2027 Rome municipal elections. The movement, which lacks clear ideological guidelines and an official membership list, emphasizes the importance of making Muslim voices heard in a multicultural society. Despite its claim of inclusivity, conservative media, such as Il Giornale and Il Tempo, have raised concerns about the potential rise of political Islam, associating it with anti-democratic values. Though MuRo27 rejects the idea of creating a “Muslim bloc” it has sparked debate about the legitimacy and risks of Muslim political movements in Europe.